Is 85 Prime?

Check if 85 is a prime number. A prime number is only divisible by 1 and itself.

Is prime?
Result: ✗ NO — 85 is NOT a prime number
Step-by-Step Solution
Step 1 What is a Prime Number?

A prime number is a natural number greater than 1 that has exactly two factors: 1 and itself.


To check if 85 is prime, we need to verify that no number from 2 to √85 divides it evenly.

Step 2 Determine Testing Range

Since 85 is odd, we only need to check odd divisors.


We only need to test up to √85 ≈ 9.22, which rounds down to 9.


If 85 has a factor larger than √85, it must also have a corresponding factor smaller than √85.

Step 3 Test Odd Divisors

Testing: 3, 5, 7, ... up to 9


85 ÷ 3 = 28 remainder 1
85 ÷ 5 = 17 (no remainder!)

We found that 5 divides 85 evenly!

Step 4 Conclusion
85 = 5 × 17

Since 85 has factors other than 1 and itself, 85 is NOT a prime number.